Franklin Pierce, George Mason, Southern Union, UNT Dallas, and Westfield Adding Flag Football
Franklin Pierce University (NH) will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The school is already actively searching for a head coach. Franklin Pierce is the first member of the NCAA Division II Northeast 10 Conference to sponsor a varsity team.
FPU is the second school from New Hampshire to offer a flag football program. Plymouth State University (NCAA D-III) will add a student-run club team in the 2026-27 academic year and compete in NIRSA's Women's Flag Football Club League.
George Mason Adding Club Team
George Mason University (VA) will add a women's flag football club team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. GMU is the second team from the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference to add a team, following Saint Joseph's University (PA). SJU also offers a club team and competes in the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
George Mason is the 15th school in Virginia to offer a club or varsity program. The Patriots join Bridgewater College (NCAA D-III), Old Dominion University (D-I Club), Richard Bland College (NJCAA), and Sweet Briar College (D-III) as schools that have announced a 2026-27 start date for flag football. Randolph College (D-III) will begin competing in the 2027-28 academic year.
North Texas at Dallas Adding Varsity Program
The University of North Texas at Dallas will add a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The school also announced the addition of a competitive dance team. Josh Howard, Athletics Director at UNT, stated:
"These new teams offer expanded opportunities for our student-athletes in sports that are gaining in popularity. As the university grows, the Trailblazers are expanding our areas of competition – and we’re not done yet.”
UNT Dallas is the third school from the NAIA's Red River Athletic Conference to add a program. North American University (TX) and Our Lady of the Lake University (TX) also announced flag football programs. Five NAIA flag football programs have been announced in Texas. Texas Wesleyan University and Wiley University also have flag football teams. Texas now has 15 flag football programs throughout the state.
The NAIA is set to nearly double the number of flag football programs for the 2027 spring season. 34 varsity teams competed in the 2026 spring campaign, but that number will grow to more than 60 next year.
Southern Union Adding Varsity Team
Southern Union State Community College (AL) is adding a women's flag football team and will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year. Head coach Meg Larsen is actively recruiting for the upcoming fall 2026 season.
Southern Union is a member of the NJCAA's Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). In October 2025, it was reported that the ACCC was looking to expand to 12 teams for the 2026 fall season, while adding North and South divisions. Bishop State, Calhoun, Lurleen B. Wallace, Northwest Shoals, Shelton State, Snead State, and Wallace State competed in the inaugural ACCC season. Wallace State defeated Shelton State 27-6 to win the conference championship in November.
Southern Union will join Enterprise State as new ACCC teams this fall, while Central Alabama is also likely to participate in the upcoming season. Trenholm State is in the process of hiring a head coach, but it's unclear whether the team will begin competing this fall.
The NJCAA expects to have around 30 programs in the 2026-27 academic year. Alexandria Technical and Community College (MN), Camden County College (NJ), Jackson State Community College (TN), Murray State College (OK), Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland (NJ), Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester (NJ), and Richard Bland College (VA) are also set to launch flag football programs in the 2026-27 academic year.
Two Schools Joining NIRSA
Boise State University (ID) and San Diego State University (CA) are the latest teams to join NIRSA and its new Women's Flag Football Club League for the 2026-27 academic year. NIRSA now has 44 programs set to compete in the upcoming season. NIRSA has grown its club league rapidly since announcing a partnership with the NFL in May.
14 schools were originally announced as part of the league: Bowling Green State University (OH), Clemson University (SC), Coastal Carolina University (SC), Florida Atlantic University, Grand Canyon University (AZ), North Carolina A&T State University, Pennsylvania State University, Radford University (VA), Texas Southern University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of North Florida, and University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Another 10 schools joined shortly, growing the list to 24: Arizona State University, Florida State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of Albany (NY), the University of Colorado, the University of Denver (CO), the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of South Florida.
Another dozen schools joined in mid-May to push the list to 36. Duke University (NC), Georgia Southern University, North Carolina State University, Old Dominion University (VA), Plymouth State University (NH), the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte were the seven teams that joined, followed by another five: Florida International University, Georgia College & State University, the University of Arizona, UCLA, and the University of Delaware.
In late May, Indiana University became the 37th team to join, followed by Delaware State University and the University of California, Berkeley at the end of the month. Three more schools were announced earlier in June to bring the total to 42: USC, Long Beach State University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Westfield State Adding Club Team Next Year, Plans Elevation to Varsity
Westfield State University (MA) is adding a women's flag football club team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, and plans to transition the team to varsity status in 2027-28. The school also announced the addition of men's swimming & diving. Linda Thompson, President of Westfield State, said:
"Our student-athletes are the heart and soul of Westfield State University. The addition of women's flag football and men's swimming and diving builds upon the proud tradition and success of Owl Athletics while creating new opportunities for students to compete, lead, and grow. These programs strengthen the student experience, expand access to intercollegiate athletics, and help more students reach their full potential both on the field and in the classroom."
Westfield State will be the first school from the NCAA Division III Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to compete in women's flag football. Anna Maria College (MA) planned to launch a team for the 2026-27 academic year, but closed this past spring before taking the field.
Westfield will join four other flag football programs in Massachusetts: Dean College (NCAA D-III Club), Harvard University (NCAA D-I Club), Roxbury Community College (NJCAA), and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (NCAA D-III Club). Dean and UMass Dartmouth will also elevate their club teams to varsity status in the 2027-28 academic year.